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s.-Bo.R ToN. y Y EDGING FOR LAGE.

N0.556,30Q a PatentedMar. 10,1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STOCKTON BORTON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE WILLCOX & GIBBS SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EDGING FOR LACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,300, dated March 10, 1896.

Application lecl August 24, 1894. Serial No. 521,226. (No specimens.)

To all whom, it may con/cern:

Beit known that I, STocKroN BoEToN, a citizen of the United States, at present residing at Providence, Rhode Island, have invented Improved Edging for Lace, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce with speed and economy an edging on lace or similar open-work goods which will be at once durable, neat, attractive and in harmony with the work of which the body of the goods is composed.

In the manufacture of lace as usually carried on edgings have been applied by trimming the lace by hand to the desired outline and then sewing onto this trimmed edge a binding of tape. This results in the production of an edging which is neither neat, attractive nor in harmony with the character of the goods to which the tape binding is applied.

In carrying out my invention I apply to the edge of the goods one or more cords, so as to cover and bridge .over the open spaces and bind together the loose ends left on the edge of the open-work lace, particularly when the latter has been out or trimmed. There is thus formed along the edge of the lace by the cord or cords a continuous body of material, to which I apply an overseam stitch. This stitch will pass over the cord or cords or the main parts thereof and through the lace, upon which the cord or cords will thus be firmly bound down by the stitching, so that the stitching and cord or cords cannot be pulled out in ordinary use. I prefer to use two or three cords, one or two being laid above and one below the edge of the lace, the stitches embracing the cords and binding and hiding the ragged edges of the lace between them and producing a finished edging equally good on both faces.

The overseam-stitch may be produced in various ways and by various neans, as by means of an overseaming sewing-machine having a looper in connection with a needle to form a true overseam-stitch over the edge of the goods, or by means of a sewing-machine having a vibrating needle, for instance, to form what is commonly termed a zigzag stitch, but which in the nished article will be in the nature of an overseam-stitch. It will be understood, therefore, that in this speciication I use the term overseam in a sufficiently general sense to refer to any stitch in the nature of an overseam, and to refer to any stitching mechanism which will produce a stitch in the nature of an overseam, and whether one or more threads be used in the production of such stitch.

In the practical carrying out of my invention I prefer to cut or trim the edge of the lace simultaneously with the application of the cords and the overseaming, but a little in advance of the stitching.

The view in the accompanying drawing will sufficiently illustrate my improved edging and the manner of producing thesame.

It `will be readily understood that the edge of the lace, particularly when it is trimmed or cut to the scalloped or other outline suiting the pattern, is very ragged, with open spaces and loose' ends; but by laying over this irregular and spaced edge a cord or cords, such as X, a regular continuous line of material is provided with sufficient body to form over or upon it and the lace the overseam-stitch Y, giving a neat and durable edging to the lace and one which harmonizes in its general character and appearance with the goods themselves.

In practice I prefer to use at least two cords X and X', one laid above and one below the cut edge of the lace, and in many cases it'will be well to use two upper cords, X, side by side, as well as one below.

For the more complete understanding of my invention I would explain that in practice I can produce my improved lace-edging by means of the overseaming sewing-machine for which a patent was granted to me, in conj unction with Charles H. W'illcox, April 5, 1892, No. 472,095, provided with trimming mechanism and with means to guide the cords X X into position above and below the cut edge of the lace. p

As the lace is fed into the machine the trimmers will trim off the surplus edge of the lace a little in advance of the sewing, as at s, and the cords X X will be laid across the open spaces and loose ends of the edge of the lace on both faces, and the overseaming-stitches Y will be made over the body thus provided,

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binding the cords to the otherwise loose frail edge and clamping and hiding the latter between the cords and producing a iinished edging equally good on both faces and in harlnony with the work of which the body of the goods is composed.

I claim as my inventionl. As a new article of manufacture, laceedging having one or more cords laid across the open spaces and loose ends at the edge of the lace and oversea1n-stitches binding such cord or cords in place, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, laceedging having a trimmed edge, one or more cords laid across the open spaces and loose ends oi' said cut edge and oversealn-stitchos binding such cord or cords in place, substantiall)7 as described.

As a new article of manufacture, laccedging having one or more cords laid across the open spaces and loose ends at the edge of the lace on each face thereof, and overscam-stitches binding such cords in place and clamping the edge 01": the lace between them, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ol' two subscribing witnesses.

STOCKTON BORTON. lVitnesscs:

CHAs. E. SMITH, CLIFFORD S. TOWER. 

